p14ARF repression induced by promoter methylation associated with metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Dis Esophagus. 2014 Feb-Mar;27(2):182-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-2050.2012.01413.x. Epub 2012 Sep 13.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the promoter methylation status of the p14ARF in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Cell lines were treated with the demethylation agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, and p14ARF messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. We analyzed the methylation status of p14ARF promoter by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction in 50 ESCC and their noncarcinoma tissues. Then demethylation caused by 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine increased the p14ARF mRNA expression level in esophagus cancer cell lines. p14ARF methylation was found in 48% (24 of 50) of ESCC patients but only in 18% (9 of 50) corresponding noncarcinoma tissues (P = 0.001). There was a statistically significant correlation between the presence of methylation and tumor metastasis (P < 0.001). The p14ARF mRNA was lower in ESCC tissues than nontumor tissues (mean ± standard deviation, 0.47 ± 0.32 vs. 1.40 ± 0.58; P = 0.002). Meanwhile, a signification association was found between the methylation status of p14ARF promoter and p14ARF mRNA expression in tissues (P < 0.05). The aberrant promoter methylation of p14ARF is a common phenomenon in ESCC, which may be an important mechanism of downregulating p14ARF mRNA expression.

Keywords: 5-Aza-CdR; esophagus carcinoma; methylation; p14ARF.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Methylation / genetics*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Genes, p16*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF / genetics*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF / metabolism

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF

Associated data

  • GENBANK/BC002409
  • GENBANK/S78535